Marcus Mariota shines on Letterman

Report: Lakers Would Be Open To Trading Andre Bynum "For The Right Deal"

The Los Angeles Lakers would be willing to trade potential-filled center Andrew Bynum “for the right deal,” according to CBS Sports.

Lakers executive Jim Buss had previously been opposed to trading Bynum, who at the age of 23 just finished his sixth year as a productive center in the NBA. However, sources have told CBS Sports that Buss would drop that opposition if a deal for the right player arose, and many believe that player would be Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard.

Howard’s future with the Orlando Magic still remains up in the air entering his final year under contract with the team that drafted him first overall in 2004. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year has been non-committal about his intentions to sign a long-term contract extension with the Magic, which have led some to speculate whether the club would look to move him before the NBA trade deadline. A deal with Los Angeles may prove to be a perfect fit as the Lakers are one team that Howard has been rumored to be interested in.

CBS Sports reports that the Magic may not be open to replacing their franchise center, Howard, with Bynum, which means that a three-way trade may be necessary for such a deal to occur. Reports indicate that the Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bogut may be a player the Magic would be interested in.

Bynum started 47 games this year for the Lakers, averaging 11.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Howard, 25, scored a career-high 22.9 points per game this season while also averaging 14.1 rebounds per contest.